Hydraulic checking hinge



Oct. 11, 1949. 'SWANSON HYDRAULIC CHECKING HINQE Filed June 28, 1948 2Sheets-Sheet l FIG.

4IA 2O 7O 43 I8 19 IINVENTOR ALFRED J. SWANSON BY ATTORNEY A. J. swANsoNHYDRAULIC CHECKING HINGE 2 Shee'ts-Sheet 2 FIG. 6.

FIG. 7.

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ENVENTOR ATTORNEY Oct. 11, 1949.

Filed June 28, 1948 FIG. 3.

' FIG. 4.

Patented Oct. 11, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE HYDRAULIC CHECKINGHINGE Alfred J. Swanson, Hollywood, Calif.

Application June 28, 1948, Serial No. 35,640

4 Claims. (01. 16-54) This invention relates to door closure controldevices and in particular to adjustable control means for an hydraulicchecking door hinge.

One object of my invention is to provide hydraulic means for controllingthe movement of a door particularly as it approaches the latchingposition. Another object of my invention is to provide adjustabledash-pot means in an hydraulic checking hinge for controlling themovement of a hinge-supported door particularly. near the .closed orlatching position of the door.

These and other objects are attained by my invention which will beunderstood from the following description and the accompanying drawingsin which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation view partly in section and with parts brokenaway of a preferred form of my hydraulic checking hinge;

Fig. 2 is a side elevational View showing a renewable cartridgecontaining my hydraulic mechanism adapted to be mounted in the halfcasings attached to the butts;

Fig. 3 is a cross sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 1;

Fig. '7 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 1-1 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view taken on the line 8-8 ofFig. 3;

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary side elevational view taken on the line 9-9 ofFig. 1, of the indexing marks at the joint between the upper and lowercasings; and

Fig. 10 is an end elevational view of the adjusting worm gear of Fig. 6.

In general, my invention relates to a door hinge having an hydraulicchecking mechanism for controlling the angular movement of a door and inparticular to the control means near the latching position of a door. Itis desirable that the door be retarded to low speed in the last five toten angular degrees, and that it then go into the latched positionpositively but without banging. The dash pot type control which I havefound to be particularly effective, and whose construction lends itselfto economy of production, is illustrated in connection with a removablecartridge type door hinge in which the checking mechanism is 'enclosedin a removable cartridge which is operatively encased in the cavities ofthe outer part-casings attached respectively to one of the two hingeleaves of each hinge.

The removable cartridge ll containing the hydraulic checking mechanismis seated, up to the central collar .13 formed thereon, in the cavity ofthe lower outer half-casing M to which is attached the leaf W. The upperhalf-casing l6 encloses, to the collar l3, the upper part of thecylindrical cartridge to which is attached the other leaf ll, said upperhalf-casing 16 being non-rotatably attached to the hexagonal upper endI8 of the hinge pin l9 by means of a hexagonal hole 20 in the closedupper end of the half-casing IS. The cartridge l l is adjustably heldagainst turning in the cavity of the lower half-casing [4 by the helicalpinion or worm 2| which is mounted in the cylindrical hole 22 drilled inthe juncture of the casing with the lower leaf, at right angles to theaxis of the cartridge, .50 that the helical threads extend to engageteeth 23 in thecollar l3 of the cartridge.

The worm or helical pinion 2| is held in the hole 22 by means of theapertured retaining washer 24, which is held in the cavity against oneend of the pinion by peening or pressing the edge of the cavity over thewasher, or otherwise fastening the washer to the lower leaf. The pinion21 is conveniently provided with a hexagonal socket 25 which may beturned by means of a suitable tool inserted through the opening 26 ofthe washer 24. Indexing marks 14 and 15 may be provided on the collar l3and the adjacent surface of the lower half-casing M.

The central collar l3 of the cartridge is provided with teeth 23 adaptedfor engagement with the helical threads of the pinion 21. By turning thepinion 2!, the radial position of the hydraulic cartridge ll relativetothe lower leaf l5 may be fixed. After the adjustment is made, the pinion2| acts as a key to prevent the cartridge II from turning in the lowerhalf-casing I4, so that the hydraulic checking mechanism will functionto control the movement of the hinge.

The hydraulic mechanism is enclosed in the hydraulic cartridge unit Hwhich consists of a cylindricalcartridge housing 12 provided in itscentral portion with an outwardly extending collar l3. The hexagonalextension it of the hinge pin I9 extends above the cap 29 which closesthe upper end of the cartridge housing l2. In the opposite end of thecartridge housing l2, there is provided a bottom closure 3| having abearing 32 for the hinge pin 19.

The hydraulic checking mechanism consists of a rotary piston '34 forminga continuation of the hinge pin I 9 in a cylindrical working chamber 35having a segmental partition member or dam 35. The working chamber 35 isformed by the inner surface of the cartridge housing [2, the radialfaces of the dam 36, the bottom closing member 3! and the upper closingsurface consisting of the bottom 38 of the reservoir bushing 39. Thebearin for the lower end of the hinge pin I9 is formed by reducing thediameter of the hinge pin below the piston 34, to fit a hole in theclosing member 5i for the cartridge housing. The rotation of the hingepin l9 causes the angular movement therewith of the rotary piston 34 inthe working chamber 35 from one edge of the dam 36 to the other edge,the dam 36 extending from the wall of the cartridge housing l2 to thesurface of the hinge pin [9.

One edge or radial face of th piston 34 is provided with a tongue 45,preferably in the outer or peripheral portion, and also preferablyextending for the full length of the working chamber 35, which isadapted to project into a corresponding slot 4'6 in the dam 35. Thearcuate face of the groove 46 is tapered from a wider opening at theentrance 4'! down to a close fit with the tongue 45 at the bottom of thegroove 48, so that as the tongue moves into the groove, it fits closerand closer therein, and gradually retards the movement of the pistonwithout jolting by a too sudden change in hydraulic friction.

As the piston 36 moves toward the slot 46, the hydraulic fluid is forcedthrough several controlled conduits which act to regulate the hydraulicfriction in the movement of the hydraulic fluid from one side of thepistonto the other. The metering pin 40 is disposed in a hole 4!concentric with and in the center of the hinge pin l9 At right angles tothe hinge pin is provided a bypass conduit 42 through the hinge pin, themetering pin 40 in the portion adjacent the conduit 62 being tapered sothat the flow of hydraulic fluid may be regulated by the endwisemovement of the metering pin 40. The pin 40 is positioned endwise by thethreaded end 43 which engages the threads 44 in the hole MA in the upperpart of the hinge pin. A one-way bypass (Fig. 6) from one side of thepiston to the other is provided by the hole 50 through the piston fromthe forward face 49 of the tongue 45 to the opposite radial face of thepiston 34, the hole being provided with a ball 52 in a seat 53 and heldin place by a retainer 54. When the piston 34 is moved counter clockwise(as shown), hydraulic liquid flows freely from the closed side of theworking chamber to the open side of the working chamber. When the pistonis moved in the opposite direction, the ball 52 is forced into the seat53 and shuts off the flow of hydraulic fluid.

In the final closing movement, the hydraulic friction is controlled bythe latching valve 51 (shown particularly in Fig. 5). The metering pin 40 extends beyond the tapered portion adjacent the conduit 42, andadjacent the duct 58 which leads from the periphery of the hinge pin is,to the axial hole 4| therein. The metering pin extension rod 59 isprovided with side slots 60 on opposite sides of the rod 59. The axialhole 4| at the position of the slots SE] is connected by a duct El tothe forward face 49 of the tongue 45. By turning the metering pin 40, byuse of the screw driver slot 62 in the threaded end 43, through not morethan one-half turn, the latching valve 51 may be adjusted to any desiredopening, thus regulating the hydraulic friction of the liquid passingfrom the space between the tongue 45 and the corresponding groove 46during the latching. The change in the metering valve opening, broughtabout by this less than a half turn for full adjustment of the latchingvalve, is negligible, because of the low pitch on the threads in thethreaded end 43.

The arrangement thus described provides for the initial controlled butrelatively free closing of the hinge and the attached door by suitableactuating means until the door approaches the fully closed position, atwhich position the movement is gradually decelerated by the movement thetongue 45 into the tapered groove 46, with the hydraulic resistancebeing regulated by the latching valve 57, so that the latch on the doorgoes into the latch plate on the door casing without slamming of thedoor.

The non-pressure reserve hydraulic liquid reservoir consists of anannular space in the upper part of the housing l2 between the reservoirbushing 39 and the hinge pin I9. The reservoir is connectedhydraulically with the working chamber by means of check-valved orifices3T, one on each side of the piston. The reservoir bushing is held inplace within the cartridge housing by means of locking rings 64 and 65.The top portion of the reservoir is closed by the closing cap 29, andsleeve bearings 66 and 61 are provided between the hinge pin and theclosing cap 29, a rubber O ring 68 being provided around the hinge pinbetween the bearings 6'6 and 61 to prevent leakage of hydraulic liquid.The radial position of the reservoir bushing is fixed by means of thekey 69 in suitably placed holes in the reservoir bushing 39 and the dam36. A closing cap 10 is provided at the upper end of the opening in thehexagonal extension l8 of the hinge pin it.

The advantages of my improved control means for regulating the latchingmovement will be apparent. Accurate adjustment of the hydraulic frictionmay be readily made by simply turning the metering pin through less thanthereby controlling the flow of liquid through the latching valve.

The dash pot type retardation at the latchin portion of the cycle ofmovement obviates the requirement of excessively accurate fitting of theparts. It also overcomes the otherwise reduced hydraulic friction due toslight bending of the hinge pin or shaft under the large hydraulicpressures encountered in the hydraulic system. Most important, itpositively prevents banging of the door regardless of wind or draftconditions, or the effects of reduced friction of the hydraulic liquiddue to high temperatures.

Reference is made to my co-pending applications Ser. Nos. 714,704 nowPatent No. 2,469,447 dated May 10, 1949, and 714,705, both filedDecember '7, 1946, the worm gear adjusting device for the cartridge,which is disclosed herein, constituting the subject matter of the formerapplication; and the spring disk detent means shown but not describedherein constituting the subject matter of the latter application.

I claim:

1. In an hydraulic checking hinge of the type described including a pairofleaves adapted for attachment to a closure and to a closure-mountingframe; an elongated cylindrical casing, a concentric shaft rotatablymounted in said casing and having a shaft extension protruding from theupper end thereof whereby a working 5, chamber is provided in theannular space within said casing around said shaft, said casing and saidshaft extension being operatively connected to said pair of leaves tohingedly turn on said shaft as a hinge pin; a fixed segmental partitionin said Working chamber, one radial face thereof being provided with anelongated longitudinal slot; and a movable segmental rotary pistonconnected to said shaft and adapted to move with said shaft in saidworking chamber,said piston on the face opposite said slotted partitionface having a protruding tongue adapted to extend into said partitionslot at the end of the movement of said piston in one direction.

2. In an hydraulic checking hinge of the type described including a pairof leaves adapted for attachment to a closure and to a closure-mountingframe, an elongated cylindrical casing, a concentric shaft rotatablymounted in said casing and having a shaft extension protruding from theupper end thereof whereby a Working chamber is provided in the annularspace within said casing around said shaft, said casing and said shaftextension being operatively connected to said pair of leaves to hingedlyturn on said shaft as a hinge pin; a fixed segmental partition in saidworking chamber, one radial face thereof being provided with anelongated longitudinal slot; a movable segmental rotary piston con--nected to .said shaft and adapted to move with said shaft in saidworking chamber, said piston on the face opposite said slotted partitionface having a protruding tongue adapted to extend into said partitionslot at the end of the movement of said piston in one direction and saidtongue being provided With a hole extending from the forward face ofsaid tongue to the opposite face of said piston; and manually controlledlatching valve means in the hole extending from the forward face of thetongue of said piston, and adapted to control the flow of hydraulicliquid from one side of said piston to the other in the latching zone.

3. In an hydraulic checking hinge of the type described including a pairof leaves adapted for attachment to a closure and to a closure-mountingframe, an elongated cylindrical casing, a concentric shaft rotatablymounted in said casing and having a shaft extension protruding from theupper end thereof whereby a working chamber is provided in the annularspace within said casing around said shaft, said casing and said shaftextension being operatively connected to said pair of leaves to hingedlyturn on said shaft as a hinge pin; a fixed segmental partition in saidworking chamber, one radial face thereof being provided with anelongated longitudinal slot; a movable segmental rotary piston attachedto said shaft and adapted to move with said shaft in said workingchamber, said piston on the face opposite said slotted partition facehaving a protruding tongue adapted to extend into said partition slot,and said piston being also provided with a pair of holes extending fromthe forward face of said tongue, one of said holes extending to theopposite face of said piston; a check valve in the last named hole insaid piston; a latching valve hole communicating with said Workingchamber and one of the holes extending from the forward face of thetongue of said piston to permit liquid to be transferred from one sideof said piston to the other in the latching zone; and valve meansmanually operable from outside said hinge for varying the opening insaid latching valve hole.

4. In an hydraulic checking hinge having a pair of leaves adapted forattachment to a 010- sure and to a closure-mounting frame; an elongatedcylindrical casing; a coaxial shaft rotatably mounted therein with ashaft extension protruding from the upper end thereof, said casing andsaid shaft extension being operatively connected to said pair of leavesto hingedly turn on said shaft as a hinge pin and said shaft having athreaded longitudinal hole therein, and a transverse metering hole; aclosure means at the bottom end of said casing including a thrustbearing for said shaft; a closure cap at the top end of said casingincluding a bearing sleeve for said shaft; an annular cavity around saidshaft including a working chamber; a fixed segmental partition in saidWorking chamber, one radial face thereof being provided with anelongated longitudinal slot; a movable segmental rotary piston connectedto said shaft and adapted to move with said shaft in said workingchamber, said piston on its face opposite said slotted partition facehaving a protruding tongue adapted to gradually close 01f said partitionslot as the piston moves to the closed position of said hinge leaves; ametering pin arranged axially in the longitudinal hole in said shaft,the upper end thereof being threadedly engaged in the threads in theupper end of said hole, said pin being adapted for adjustablepositioning both longitudinally and radially, said pin being providedwith a taper of reduced diameter adja cent the transverse metering holethrough said shaft, and said pin being also provided with opposedsegmental cuts arranged to provide a latching valve; a one-way valvedpassage through said shaft adapted to permit liquid to flow from oneside of said piston to the other side when said hinge is being opened;the metering hole through said shaft being positioned adjacent thetapered portion cut on said pin; and said shaft being provided with alatching valve hole adjacent said segmental cuts in said pin and a holecommunicating with said latching valve hole and extending from theradial face of the tongue of said piston.

ALFRED J. SWANSON.

REFERENCES CITED The followmg references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,241,084 Bommer Sept. 25, 19172,286,516 Swanson June 16, 1942

